County: Clare Site name: TEASKAGH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: D. Blair Gibson
Site type: Habitation site
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 528646m, N 695884m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.008903, -9.063235
This was the second site to be excavated under the auspices of the Cahercommaun Archaeological Research Project (also known as the Chiefdoms of County Clare Project). The project aims to examine prehistoric social organisation and economic adaptation in the Burren region. The criteria of site selection were as follows: the site chosen should be an unenclosed hut linked to a field system which also incorporated other sites, and should ideally be situated close to Cahercommaun, the core site of the survey.
Excavation was generously supported by a grant from Earthwatch and Earthwatch volunteers assisted in the field. A 10-week season of excavation commenced in July 1986.
The site lay in a solution hollow in the field adjacent to that in which Cahercommaun is situated. A small section of collapsed walling survived at one corner of the hollow and a short distance to the south of this a circular depression was visible. Excavation was concentrated on the more obvious, though less extensive, northern feature. This was 8m in diameter and three 2m-square trenches were opened.
Because of the large amount of finds recovered the excavation was not completed. However, the feature was found to be associated with two field systems, probably vastly differing in date.
The artefact assemblage consists almost exclusively of stone tools, but some pottery was also recovered. No datable artefact was found, however, and radiocarbon dates arc pending.
500 Landfair Ave, L.A., Ca. 90024, USA
